Welcome to the Artificial Heart Lab and Cardiovascular Fluid Dynamics Lab. This research facility has been in existence since the early 1970s as Penn State faculty and researchers at the Hershey Medical Center and the University Park campus worked towards the development of a total artificial heart. Over the past 30 years, this work has lead to commercially available devices, which are used today. The research focuses on the use of experimental flow measurement techniques to understand and eliminate areas of blood damage and thrombus deposition associated with cardiovascular devices (artificial hearts, ventricular assist devices, prosthetic heart valves, etc.). We also use in vitro blood studies to assess the potential damage these devices may induce.
Over the years, this lab has been lead by Winfred Philips, Ph.D., David Gesolowitz, Ph.D., Roger Gaumond, Ph.D., John M. Tarbell, Ph.D., and Steven Deutsch, Ph.D. As we have a long history in this area, I intend to continue the fine work that preceded me and I have been part of already and move into more fundamental areas to improve cardiovascular devices and minimize host responses.